| What are exemptions? | Top |
| There are two types of exemptions: personal exemptions and dependency exemptions. Each exemption reduces the income that is subject to tax by the exemption amount. For 2008, the exemption amount is $3,500. Only one exemption can be claimed per person. An exemption for a particular person cannot be claimed on more than one tax return. |
| Personal exemptions can be claimed for the taxpayer and spouse. |
| Each personal exemption reduces the income that is subject to tax by the exemption amount. |
| * For 2008, the exemption amount is $3,500. |
| To claim a personal exemption for a spouse: |
- The taxpayers must be married by the last day of the year, or
- the spouse must have died during the year, and the taxpayer must not have remarried during the year.
* On separate return, if married filing separately, spouse must have no gross income. |
| Dependency Exemptions |
| Remember that a dependent is a person other than the taxpayer who entitles the taxpayer to claim a dependency exemption. |
| To claim a dependency exemption, all of the dependency tests must be met. The five dependency tests are: |
- Member of household or relationship test
- Citizen or resident test
- Joint return test
- Gross income test
- Support test
|
| Each dependency exemption reduces the income that is subject to tax by the exemption amount. The exemption amount changes every year. |
| * For 2008, the exemption amount is $3,500. |
| A taxpayer cannot claim a personal exemption for the taxpayer or the spouse if he or she can be claimed as a dependent on another tax return. |
| I claimed myself on my return. I then found out that my parents wanted to claim me as a dependent on their return. Is there any way I can correct this, even after my return was accepted by the IRS? | Top |
| You will need to file an amended return not claiming yourself, or claiming 0 exemptions, instead of 1. You will need to mail in your amended return. Once you do this, your parents will then need to mail in their return claiming you as a dependent. This will all need to be done by mail. And since your return claiming yourself was already accepted, your parents will not be able to e-file and claim you. |
